The Labor enquirer., 1887-11-26
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ing tsnants. 0foot tEononortation corpo
Rattoas still sneeee1 = y4tosting theil
pro0to upoa vatesod otook through unjust
charges. The United ooaies senate has
bsooms IN open soandal H. sssts being
purchased by The rish h open defiance Of
The popular vill. I tzi1ine fisheries dis
puts = ssissd rpon = IN excuse for nee.
essafy military preparations which are
designed 10 breed . spirit Of war, TO ape
European dsspotisR, and to empty the
treasury without paying the public debt
Undsr these and olhsR alarming condi
tions we appeal 70 ~ people of the
whole country 10 conc out Of the old
party organizations, whore indifference
to the pubic welfare + responsible for
this distress, and help ~ 70 organize q
new political party, not sectional but ma.
ti0nal, whose members shall be called
commoners, whose object shall be to re-
peal all class laws in favor Of the rich, and
to relieve the distress Of our industries
BY establishing the following principles:
l. Land-Every human being possesses
Q natural, inalienable right to sufficient
land for self support and We desire to Sc
cure to ever industrious citizen home as
the highest result Of free institutions. To
this end We desire . graduated land tax
on al land estates, especially those held
for speculative or tenant purpose; the re-
claimati0n Of all unearned land grants;
the immediate opening of Oklahoma to
homestead settlement; the purchase of
all unOccupied Indian lands, and the set
tlement of the various tribes in severalty;
also laws preventing corporations from
acquiring real estate beyond the requir-
ments Of their business, and alien owner
ship Of land. The system of irrigation,
in states and territories where necessary,
shall be under such public control as shall
secure the free and equitable use of the
waters and franchises to the people.
2. Transportation-The means of COM
munication or transportation should be
controlled BY the people, as is the United
States postal system, and equitable rates
everywhere established.
8. Money-The establishment of a ma
tienal monetary system in the interest of
the producer instead Of the speculator
and usurer by which circulating medium
in necessary quantity and full, legal ten
der, shall be issued directly to the peo-
pie, without the Intervention of banks, or
loaned TO citizens upon ample security at
a low rate of interest 70 relieve them from
the extortions of uspry and enable them
to control the money supply. Postal saw
ings banks should be established. While
we have free coinage Of gold, we should
have free coinage Of silver. We demand
the prompt payment of the national debt,
and condemn the further issue of interest
bearing bonds, either by the national gov
ernment, or by states, territories, counties
or municipalities.
I. Labor-Arbitration should take the
place of strikes and other injurious meth
DDS of settling labor disputes; the letting of
convict labor to contractors be prohibited;
the contract system be abolished in pub
lie wo Re; the hours of labor in industrial
estabi'shmtnts be reduced commensurate
with tho increase Of production in labor
saving machinery; employees to be pro-
!ected from bodily injury; equal pay be-
iug g;ve, 10, equal work for both sexes,
and labor, agricultural and cooperative
associations be favored and incorporated
by law. The foundation of republic is
the intelligence of its citizens, and chii
dren who are driven into worb shops,
mines and factories are deprived of edt-
cation which should be secured by proper
legislation. We desire to see labor organ
izations extend throughout all civilized
countries, until it shall be impossible for
despots TO array the workingmen of one
country in war against their brothers of
another country.
s. Soldiers and Sailors-In apprecia-
ton of the services of United States SOL
diers and sailors We demand for them JUS
tice before charity. The purposely de-
preciatsa monev DsiS them a7.:ng the
war should be made equal in value to the
gold paid the bondholder. The soldier
was promised geld or its equivalent and
was paid in deprecated paper. The bond
holder loaned the government deprecated
paper and contracted to take it back, but
was paid in gold.
6. Income Taxa graduated income
is the most equitable system of taxation,
placing the burden Of government on
those who can best AFFORD to pay, instead
Of laying it on the farmers and producers,
and exempting millionaire b0ndholders
and corporations.
z. United States Senate-The capture
Of the United States senate by million
aires and and tools Of corporations who
have no sympathy With free institutions,
threatens the very existence of the repub-
lie. We demand constitutional amend
ment making United States senators elect